Navy Seals disciplined for role in Medal of Honor video games

One Navy Seal who took part in the raid on Osama bin Laden is among seven US
special operations soldiers who face punishment for disclosing classified
information to a video game maker.

Medal of Honor: Warfighter.

9:57AM GMT 09 Nov 2012

The Seven Navy Seals have been disciplined for their work as paid consultants on the video game Medal of Honor: Warfighter, senior navy officials said.

The seven members of SEAL Team Six, one of whom was involved in the raid which killed Osama bin Laden, spent two days working on the video game this spring and summer.

They have been disciplined for failing to notify their command about the consultation work and for showing the game designers some of the specially designed combat equipment unique to the unit, the Associated Press reported.

As punishment, each received a letter of reprimand and a two-month reduction in pay.

A further four Seals are under investigation for similar alleged violations.

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The game portrays realistic missions and has been developed with the input of real commandos, but it does not feature a recreation of the Bin Laden raid.

The deputy commander of naval special warfare command, Rear Admiral Garry Bonelli, told AP: "We do not tolerate deviations from the policies that govern who we are and what we do as sailors in the United States Navy."

He added that the punishments "send a clear message throughout our force that we are and will be held to a high standard of accountability."

The action follows a year in which the US Navy Seals have been especially visible in the news.

Matt Bissonnette, who was in the May 2011 Pakistan raid that resulted in the killing of Osama Bin Laden, wrote a first-hand account under the pseudonym Mark Owen.

The Pentagon argue that the book violates the non-disclosure agreements he signed as a Seal - a charge he disputes.

Bissonnette was criticised by the head of naval special warfare command Rear Admiral Sean Pybus, who told his force that "hawking details about a mission" and making money from distributing information about Seal training and operations put the force and their families at risk.

All Seals must sign non-disclosure agreements when they enter service and when they leave.